Digital Engagement Tools for the Whole Participation Spectrum

How can you best leverage the potential of digital tools to deepen meaningful public involvement? This session will map out a wide range of digital engagement tools and identify the unique roles and strengths of each and discuss best practices for tool selection.

The International Association for Public Participation has developed a spectrum to help classify the level of participation that defines the public’s role in public participation processes.

This session will outline a wide range of digital engagement tools and pair each one to the 5 levels defined by the spectrum: inform, involve, consult, collaborate or empower. We will also identify their unique roles and strengths and discuss the best practices for tool selection, paying special attention to equity and inclusion as it relates to each tool category.

This session will engage participants to assess key lessons learned in the application of digital engagement tools. Together we will reflect on key considerations for high quality digital engagement and share a set of ten key questions to ask when selecting tools. Session participants will also be introduced to take away resources.

Takeaways:

You will leave this session with an understanding of:

• Typology of digital engagement tools with examples in each category;
• Tips for applying an equity and inclusion lens in digital engagement;
• Ten questions to ask about a potential digital engagement tool.